As long as he stays healthy, I think that Casilla will have a break-through season. He is really playing with a chip on his shoulder. I suspect that he was not that happy about the length of the negotiations prior to arbitration, so that might be an extra incentive to him...

Great take, I thought this was a much more balanced view of Casilla in light of what other teams are doing at that position...

People say "the Twins never have power guys", but of course, it isn't true...they've developed or acquired a fair amount of them, but they're all outfielders and 1st basemen. They haven't even tried to use 2B or SS as a legitimate source of run production for several decades. Well, J.J. Hardy would be a lone exception to that rule - they HAD it right with him, but bailed absurdly quick on that experiment and headed back to slap hitters.

I like Casilla just fine. He isn't among the biggest problems on this club. But sometimes you can have a "passable" options at several positions, and then you put it altogether and realize: "Crap! We don't have enough offense on this team". In other words, my fear is that the "whole" of the Twins is less than the sum of Casilla, Carroll, Span, and Revere added together. None of those guys are "terrible" at what they do, but that doesn't make the Twins a good "team".

I like the optimism! I have always like but been frustrated with Alexi.
Other than his obvious inconsistent work with the bat, his base running is another frustration I have. I see him run out a double or triple and he is fast (maybe not Revere fast, but still easily above average) but it has never translated into stolen base numbers that I have always hoped we could get from Alexi.
Having said that, even without stolen bases, if he achieves an OBP of .350 and plays solid defense at 2B I'll be happy with that, and I'm sure Gardy will too.

but it has never translated into stolen base numbers that I have always hoped we could get from Alexi.

I think that is more of a product of not being on the field rather than not stealing bases. In the past three years he has swiped 32 bases in 37 attempts. That's a pretty good rate. Now, if he is able to maintain over the course of a season and post a .350 on-base percentage, I can see him adding more stolen bases in 2012.

Parker, when I read your headline I asked should you have used 'will' rather than 'can?' That has always been the problem with Alexi. Will this finally be the year when will and can will merge into he does? I hope so and to be honest, have a gut feeling that he will...provided he is healthy enough to play over 120 games.

I think the right answer is, we have no idea. But if I had to bet, he'll get injured again at some point. He'll mostly be below average, despite what appears to be above average talent. That said, I think he has a real shot to be effective, I just don't trust him to be so. Not like Span, for example, who I trust totally.